ESSAY: Although post-1960 America has seen a rise in conspir…
ESSAY: Although post-1960 America has seen a rise in conspiracy theories and attendant fictions, it is clear that that the theme runs throughout American history, culture, and literature. In his essay “Conspiracy in American Narrative,” Timothy Melley notes that for authors including Thomas Pynchon, Allan Ginsberg, Don Dellilo, Ken Kesey, Joan Didion, and Margaret Atwood, “conspiracy was not simply complot (the gathering of people to enact a secret plan) or a metaphor for interpretive suspicion, it was an explicit cultural logic for thinking about systems, networks, and complex social structures.” For writers the Melley mentions–and we can add the likes of James Ellroy, Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code), Robert Anton Wilson (the Illuminatus trilogy), Stephen King (11/22/63), Umberto Eco, and even Robert Ludlum and Michael Crichton, conspiracy theories have provided fertile ground for successful (financial and critical) novels. For this essay, offer an explanation for why readers are drawn to such narratives. As a conclusion, consider the value of reading conspiracy narratives or fictions–do they simply magnify conspiracy thinking or do they offer a critique or counter–or something else.In your response, provide a definition for “conspiracy fiction (or narrative)”–as distinct from conspiracy theories. Include primary literary elements, themes, and motifs, some of which may be shared with conspiracy theory (incorporating theoretical concepts from the readings–both undergraduate and graduate as applicable–distinguishes Bs from As). Provide at least three examples (include at least two novels or films–don’t just list three short stories) to illustrate your definition and include an explanation of how the example illustrates the definition by pointing to specifics of plot or other literary element (you do not need produce specific quotations). If breaking down “conspiracy fiction” further helps with your definition, feel free to distinguish subcategories. You may also want to distinguish from other similar genres as necessary.
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